Hank Nuwer is an author and professor whose academic specialty is in hazing education.


         Positive action from Florida A & M: Hazing panel expected to draw thousands. If you're there Thursday and a fan of this page, come say hello to me after the panel. Hank Nuwer, Moderator.

         Sept. 17 is a sad historic day in hazing.  It recalls the death of Richard Swanson at Southern California who choked in 1959 on a force-fed slab of liver. Television star David Nelson (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet)
         was an active member of that Kappa Sigma chapter.  On Sept. 17, 1984, Gordie Bailey died in a University of Colorado alcohol-fueled initiation. Cowardly members scattered and waited forever to call 911.
      
         Hank Nuwer's newest columns

         SUNY Geneseo cancels women's volleyball season after a player alleges she was "encouraged" to drink at a party and then was abandoned, found by strangers, and hospitalized.


         Newspaper supports firing of popular coach after sexual hazing confirmed


        Huge disagreement in Florida A & M case: parents blame school for their son's death; Florida A & M blames Robert Champion for knowingly taking a beating. Test case indeed.

        Lambda Chi Alpha pledge Preston W. Vorhauer, 18, decides to go for a long swim with brothers in a reservoir and drowns. Investigating detective says he suspects nothing more than an accident. 
       The sister of Chad Meredith, the Miami of Florida pledge from Indianapolis whose hazing death by drowning was covered up at first and bungled by investigators, speaks out on the University of Idaho death:
       Hank,

I have read on the drowning of this teen.  It sounds all too familiar to me!  The story similar to the gut wrenching story of our own!  Remember in Chad's story we were instantly told his drowning had nothing to do with hazing.  We were told this by every authority figure involved with no investigation once so ever.  There was an immediate plea from authorities to keep his death hushed.  Had my family let it drop, as they hoped, his death would have never made the difference it now has.  It would have never brought light to the need for more strict hazing laws and been swept under the rug just like many others I'm sure have. There would be no bill.  Honestly in our first moments of shock we wanted to believe it was an innocent accident as well.  It wasn't until we sat and pondered the situation, knowing Chad and his character that we realized there had to be more than what we were being told.  How can any youth die and no thorough investigation be done?  I'll never understand that!!  I agree with you, this cannot, should not, and would be a shame to let this young man die without knowing the facts.   I can't find online if there was drinking involved.  Actually there is very little talk of the actual actions of that day.  Do you know?  The lack of the days actions being reported also sends red flags to me.  Chad's story was all over the news EVERYWHERE.  As of right now they will speak little of it as to not give a bad taste for fraternities, the university, or ideas of hazing.  Once hazing is mentioned they will begin to make this young man seem of low morals...because how could it be the fraternity's fault of his death? 

Any death of a youth should have answers of some sort!  How can there be answers with no true investigation?  Aren't his loved ones entitled to answers?  Isn't the public entitled to know what's going on at these schools they may someday send their youth to or have youth present there now?  Although answers do not bring their son/brother back it does put some rest to the agonizing torture of not knowing.  I'll say this, even if this particular youth's death did turn out to be a true accident (and I don't feel it will) a full investigation would still bring education to the dangers of these acts.  It would help to be made known that the actions of Fraternities/sorority WILL NOT BE TAKEN LIGHTLY and will be investigated at the maximum level needed!  Wouldn't this help to make fraternity/sorority's think twice before following through with actions (even if not hazing but still dangerous)?  An investigation is very much needed here. 

Please keep me updated on this!!   Thanks so much Hank!  Kelly Meredith-Henson (sister of Chad Meredith)
     
       Geneseo volleyball alcohol-related hazing kills season. New: deceased Geneseo pledge Arman Partamian video.                           

         Fresno State 6-5, 325-pound Theta Chi pledge Philip Alexander Dhanens, a first-year student, perishes

         Hazing info on Facebook.  Doing a story, thesis, or term paper? You may want to visit this site.

       Op Ed for the Orlando Sentinel by Hank Nuwer:  Hazing and the Justice System

       New: Court decision in Bakersfield hazing defeats purpose of California's Matt's Law       
                                                                                                                                                            
       Death of Robert Champion at Florida A & M comes in spite of nationwide attempts to tone down band hazing or eliminate it.

       Hank Nuwer on the death of Robert Champion

       Under Construction: This Week in Hazing

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